If you want (most of) the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon’s features without copping out quite so much money, cast your eye on the Bambu Lab P1P. It is a somewhat stripped-down version of the X1 series machine that does away with fancier garnish like a touch screen and lidar sensors, as well as the enclosure, in order to produce a more affordable model. It retains key aspects of the X1 though, including its kinematics, “state-of-the-art electronics”, as well as vibration compensation and pressure advance.

Even without an enclosure, the P1P provides a stable cube frame that, together with its CoreXY setup, allows it to go full throttle when it comes to print speeds. To enclose the printer, users can 3D print side panels for the P1P themselves using Bambu Lab’s “Modplate” files, which allow you to fully customize your printer and create a somewhat more suitable environment for temperature-sensitive filaments.

Like the X1, the build volume is decently sized at 256 x 256 x 256 mm, and the direct extruder and 300 °C-capable hot end allow for a wide palette of filaments to be used (though it doesn’t have the X1’s hardened nozzle). Depending on the material, a bit of tweaking to the print settings — mainly speed — might be advised to get even cleaner-looking prints; but, for everyday materials, the P1P knocks it out of the park. With default print speeds of about 250 mm/s and the potential for even faster movement, the P1P creates some rapidly-produced, high-quality prints with very little effort.

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Bambu Lab P1P Review: Shaking Things Up

The P1P does see changes when it comes to its print bed. Instead of a smooth surface, the P1P comes with a flexible PEI-covered spring steel plate that, unlike the X1 Carbon’s, does not need extra adhesives to keep the print in place. Also, instead of the large touchscreen, the P1P comes with a small 2.7-inch LCD with a clicky wheel. Arguably not the most contemporary, but thanks to its Wi-Fi connectivity and remote monitoring via the Bambu Studio slicer or the mobile app, interaction with the printer is mostly done remotely anyways. Some features found on the X1, like a camera for further inspection of prints, can be added later on via upgrades, should you wish.

Currently available for $699, the P1P isn’t particularly cheap, but the unit comes with premium features like a PEI-coated flex plate and auto bed leveling, alongside advanced features such as input shaping and pressure advance, and can be upgraded with a monitoring camera and light. Being compatible with Bambu Lab’s $349 four-color AMS unit for multicolor prints is a big plus, too.

Although “only” the offshoot printer from Bambu Lab, the P1P feels and behaves like the total package in many ways and, once you slap some panels onto it, it even looks like it. If you want a CoreXY 3D printer that produces fast, quality prints without tinkering, the P1P is an offer that is hard to find for its price.

The Voron project started back in 2015 with the goal of releasing an open-source, no-compromise 3D printer, and ever since the team has done a stellar job of designing professional-looking and strong-performing machines. The Voron 2.4 is the latest version of Voron’s flagship and largest open-source CoreXY 3D printer.

It’s not just the Voron’s neat aesthetics that make this machine stand out, it’s a unique 3D printer in many aspects. For starters, it is one of the few designs that use belts and linear rails for all three axes instead of the typically used Z-axis lead screw. Plus, its print bed is stationary, reducing movement and vibrations. What’s more, the 3D printer uses four-axis leveling, physically aligning the print bed with stepper motors located on each corner of the bed, based on the feedback from the printer’s onboard leveling probe.

Probably its biggest difference from the other machines on this list, however, is the fact that Voron doesn’t sell 3D printers or even parts. As the project is fully open-source, you will have to source all the parts for the 3D printer and assemble it yourself. Thankfully for a project of this nature, Voron documentation goes above and beyond expectations, and the strong and active community around the project can be especially helpful for newcomers to get the hang of this machine. Nevertheless, a base knowledge of electrical and mechanical components won’t hurt.

You can also order a bundle kit with all the non-printable parts from third-party resellers online if you don’t want to source the parts independently, but be aware that you might get off-brand components. You will also have to 3D print parts for it, so you need access to a 3D printer beforehand. That way, you can set your personal color scheme for your printer, though.

The bill of materials can be found on the Voron website, and you can select from various options for the Voron you’re planning to build such as direct or Bowden drive and even the print bed size. Available in three different sizes, 250 x 250 x 250 mm, 300 x 300 x 300 mm, and 350 x 350 x 350 mm, the printer comes with pretty much everything (if you go for a bundle kit), including a 32-bit BTT Octopus mainboard with silent stepper drivers, Klipper and Wi-Fi connectivity, and a heated chamber with a HEPA filter.

The Voron 2.4 has an all-metal hot end that readily reaches the 285°C needed to print exotic materials like nylon and polycarbonate and generally prints at about 150 mm/s default print speed. You can easily crank it up to 250 mm/s, though, thanks to advanced features such as resonance compensation built into its Klipper firmware.

If you want an accurate and reliable workhorse CoreXY 3D printer that you can fully customize yourself, and don’t shy away from the involved assembly, the Voron 2.4 is an enticing option.